Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday of stopping India’s military actions against terror camps in Pakistan at the request of former US President Donald Trump. During a rally in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, as part of the *Voter Adhikar Yatra*, Gandhi alleged that Modi ceased operations in just five hours following Trump’s directive to de-escalate. This claim arose shortly after Trump reiterated his assertion during a cabinet meeting in Washington that he personally intervened to avert a potential conflict between India and Pakistan in May.
Trump stated that he threatened both nations with significant tariffs and the suspension of trade agreements if they did not agree to a ceasefire, claiming that his pressure led Modi to quickly halt military activities. Since May, Trump has publicly claimed over 40 times that his involvement stopped the India-Pakistan conflict from escalating to a nuclear level. However, India has consistently insisted that the ceasefire was established directly between the two militaries without any external mediation. Both Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have dismissed allegations of foreign interference during Operation Sindoor.
At the rally, Gandhi further criticized the BJP and the Election Commission, accusing them of altering voter lists and ‘stealing votes.’ He called for accountability regarding the reported removal of 65 lakh names from Bihar’s electoral rolls, suggesting it was indicative of a larger trend of electoral fraud. These statements contribute to a growing political contention as Bihar approaches elections, with Gandhi intensifying his critique of the BJP and the Election Commission, while Trump’s comments continue to provoke discussions on India’s management of cross-border tensions with Pakistan.